Toothbrush



Sept. 11, 1934.

JE. w. KRUEGER TOOTHBRUSH Filed May 28, 1952 pip/Ir um s Patented Sept.11, 1934 NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention is comprised primarily of a barrel body element; a threadedshaft runs longitudinally and centrally of the barrel.

A manipulative handle is disposed at one end 5 or the bam-e1 and isadapted to be moved longitudinally of the barrel against a reactingelement, as a coil spring. A threaded stern is disposed longitudinallyof the barrel and in axial alignment with the hand manipulative element.

A 'tooth brush that is cylindrical in cross sec.- tional area isremovably secured to the outer end of the threaded stem and, as the handmanipulative element is moved longitudinally of the barrel it rotatesthe threaded stem in one direction as it is pushed in, and as the coilspring returns the hand manipulative element to its normal position ofrepose the stem and tooth brush are rotated in the opposite direction. Aprotective shield is disposed about one side of the brush.

A well is disposed within the shank of the barrel for the holding ofdentifrice, either in paste form or in fluid form and the threaded stemand the body of the tooth brush have an exuding 25 hole disposedlongitudinally therethrough with intercommunicating holes disposedwithin the body of the brush to facilitate the exuding of the dentifriceinto the bristle structure of the brush; simple threaded compensatingmeans is provided for creating an exuding pressure on the dentifricecarried therein as the same is depleted through use.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tooth brush that maybe used as a tooth brush is at present used and at the same time may berotated in either direction to clean the surface of the teeth as well asbetween the teeth.

A still further object of my invention consists in so constructing adevice that a dentifrice may be automatically released to the brushduring the brushing action.

A still further object of my invention consists in so constructing thedevice that it will be small 45 in size and easy to use.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown withreference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of thisspecification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional side view of the dentifrice well, ofthe hollow stem connected thereto, of the tooth brush and of the toothbrush guard, and is made primarily to illustrate means for moving thepiston within the dentifrice holding well and for exuding the dentifricefrom the dentifrice holding well through the tooth brush and into thebristles of the brush.

Fig. 4 is a sectional end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3,the same is taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the directionindicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3,the same being taken on line 5-5 of 3, looking in the directionindicated.

Fig. e' is a fragmentary sectional View of the base end of the brush.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary partially sectional view of the discharge end ofthe stem and illustrates the connection between the stem and the baseend of theA brush.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the body of my new and improved brush holder,illustrating a tube of dentifrice in position for filling the dentifriceholding well of the device.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

My device is comprised primarily of a barrel 1.

A stem 2 is disposed centrally of and extends 85 longitudinally of thebarrel 1. A relatively coarse screw thread 3 is disposed upon theexterior of the threaded stem. A hand manipulative handle 4 projectsfrom the open end of the barrel and the same forms a sleeve to receivethe stem and to permit the reception of the hand manipulative memberrelative to the stem. A pin 5 is disposed within the sleeve and isplaced in registry with the screw thread 3 and the same imparts rotationto the stem as it is reciprocated along the stem.

A screw 8 coacts with a slot 9 disposed longitudinally of the outersurface of the hand manipulative element and prevents the rotation, orthe partial rotation, of the hand manipulative element.

A compressible element, as a coil spring 10 is disposed within thebarrel and within an annular spring receiving recess 11 disposed withinthe hand manipulative element. The longitudinal movement of the handmanipulative element ro- 195 tates the shaft which in turn rotates thebrush in one direction. The release of the hand manipulative elementpermits the reaction of the coil spring to return the hand manipulativeelement to its normal extended position and simultane- 110 ouslytherewith rotates the threaded stem and the brush in the oppositedirection.

A concavity 12 is disposed in the outer end oi' the hand manipulativeelement to facilitate the application of the thumb thereto and abreather hole intercommunicates with the stem receiving cylindrical hole14 which prevents the development of pressure within the recess duringthe manipulation of the hand element.

An outwardly extending annular band l5 extends about the barrel tofacilitate the grasping of the barrel between the fingers of the userand to facilitate the manipulation of the same.

The barrel 1 is compartmented, a dentifrice holding well 23 beingprovided in the form of a cylinder 24 that is secured to the threadedstem 2. A piston 26 is rcciprocably disposed within the dentifriceholding well. A cylinder head 27 is removably and threadably secured tothe open end of the cylinder and the piston rod 28 run therethrough andconnects the piston 26 with the brush holder 29.

The barrel l has a neck 30 outwardly extending Atherefrom and anenlarged threaded head 31 is bristle structure of the brush.

A screw receiving slot 35 is disposed upon the outer surface of thepiston rod and a set screw 36 extends thereinto to secure the end wallof the cylinder to the piston rod to prevent relative rotary movementtherebetween.

Corrugations 3'7 are disposed in the outer surface of the open end ofthe brush holder and tapering wedges 38 are disposed upon the outersurface of the end of the piston rod. The Wedges engage within thecorrugations and form a driving relation between the piston rod and thebrush holder.

An annular recess 39 is disposed within the outer surface of the brushholder and a ring 4D formed in the hood, or guard, acts as a bearing forsupporting the brush holder.

The discharge end of the piston rod forms a frusto-conical taperedsurface 41 and the same is so forme'd as to engage the frusto-conicalouter surface 42 of the tube 43 so that when a contact is made thedentifrice may be supplied directly through the piston rod and into thedentifrice holding well disposed within the dentifrice holding cylinder.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulll the objects primarily Stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in variuos forms, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What I claim is:

1. n a device of the class described, the combination of a barrel bodyelement, a stem carrying a cylinder disposed longitudinal of the barrel,means for rotating the stem and the cylinder, a piston disposed withinthe cylinder, a hollow piston rod outwardly extending from the piston, atooth brush secured to the piston rod, communieating means disposedbetween the base of the brush bristles and the cylinder and extendinglongitudinally of the piston rod, manually settable means forpredetermining the position of the piston within the cylinder and aguard adapted for protecting the brush.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular bodyelement, a stern rotatably mounted within the body element, a cylindersecured to the inner end of the stem, a piston slidably mounted withinthe cylinder, a hollow piston rod secured to the piston and extendingoutwardly through the cylinder and the tubular body element, a circulartooth brush secured to the outermost end of the hollow piston rod and inopen communication therewith, a guard rotatably but not slidablyconnected to and surrounding the tooth brush and threadedly mounted toan elongated and reduced end of the tubular body element, wherebyadvancing or retarding the guard on its threads will cause relativesliding movement between the piston and its cylinder.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollowtubular body element formed with a cylindrical compartment at one of itsends, a cylinder rotatably mounted within the compertinent and providedwith a spirally grooved stem extending throgh the inner wall of thecornpartrnent and out through the remainder of the length of the tubularbody element, a hand engaging means rotatably mounted within the bodyelement and yieldingly interconnected with the 1 spirally grooved stemfor rotating the same, an apertured piston slidab-ly mounted within thecylinder, a tube secured to the pistonin open cornmunication with theaperture therein, means for permitting sliding movement of the pistonrelative to the cylinder and for preventing relative rotary movementtherebetween, a hollow circular brush secured to the outermost end ofthe tube and in open communication therewith, and means interposedbetween the brush and the tubular body within the cylinder.

EDWIN W. KRUEGER.

